On Nameless Mountain, the Qing'an Merchant Team had only just completed its defensive preparations when the enemy impatiently closed in.
One or two thousand bandits swept across the wilderness in a dark mass, their eyes glinting with greed and bloodlust. Like wolves eyeing a flock of sheep, they bared their claws and fangs, unable to wait any longer.
These bandits were no ordinary refugees. Most were strong and well-built, armed with spears, lances, sabers, axes, and a small number of bows. They moved with considerable order and were definitely not a mere rabble.
Moreover, several well-equipped leaders moved among the roving bandits, shouting from time to time to bolster morale.
The bandits stopped barely half a li from the merchant team.
They did not rashly attack, merely surrounding the merchant team on the hill and staring at them like tigers watching their prey.
They also seemed to be waiting for something.
Seeing this, Wang Chen had someone bring over a large chest in the temporary camp.
The chest was extremely heavy and required four runners to carry it.
The chest was set before Wang Chen. He drew his sword and cut off the brass lock hanging from it.
Then he kicked the lid open.
The people of the merchant team gathered around involuntarily sucked in a breath.
The chest was filled to the brim with fine snowflake silver, a sight that made hearts pound.
Everyone knew that the merchant team had brought a great deal of gold and silver to Yunze Prefecture to purchase grain.
But knowing and seeing it with their own eyes were entirely different matters!
Wang Chen planted a foot on the silver chest and said in a deep voice, "You have all seen the situation. The bandits have set their sights on us. If we do